VERTONGHEN LEFT SEETHING
Defender furious after being dropped by Pochettino for Spurs’ opening day win
LONDON
JAN Vertonghen was so furious about his omission from Tottenham’s season opener that some of his teammates were surprised he stayed to watch the game.
Manager Mauricio Pochettino made an example of defender Vertonghen, leaving him out of the 3-1 win against Aston Villa on Saturday.
Pochettino made the call having been left unimpressed with the centre-back’s fitness following Spurs’ pre-season, although
he explained the decision as a tactical one.
Toby Alderweireld and Davinson Sanchez were selected to start instead and the versatile Eric Dier named on the bench.
Vertonghen, who insisted after the game that he was fit and not injured, was described as ‘fuming’ at Pochettino’s decision to leave him out of his squad altogether.
Pochettino informed his players of his squad last Friday and Vertonghen attended the game after training in the morning.
Though his simmering unhappiness was picked up by his teammates ahead of the game and evident as he watched on from the stands.
Pochettino’s training and preseason sessions have been as tough as ever so his disappointment at Vertonghen’s condition was clear to see from his squad selection.
That punishing routine continued this week with double sessions for his players on Tuesday and Wednesday, giving Vertonghen further opportunity to get up to speed and try and get back in Pochettino’s plans for Spurs’ trip to Manchester City on Saturday.
Meanwhile, deadline-day signing Ryan Sessegnon hopes to start training again next week.
The £25 milliion (RM126 million) capture from Fulham has been dogged by a hamstring injury picked up during England’s Under-21 campaign during the summer.
Pochettino plans to bed him in slowly at Spurs and the 19-yearold is aiming to be in contention to play again in mid-September, after the first international break of the season.